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Bringing Home Baby Now That You’re No Longer Expecting

Returning home from the hospital with your baby safely restrained in a car seat can be both a relief and a stress storm. Here’s what you need to know about the range of physical and emotional changes related to C-section or vaginal birth processes you may experience.

“The six weeks following delivery is known as the postpartum period,” said Chinelo Echeazu, MD, with Memorial Physician Services, Women’s Healthcare. “Women experience many changes during this time period. If you ever have concerns, it’s important to speak with your doctor sooner rather than later.”

Common changes that occur during the postpartum period include:

    1. Vaginal bleeding or lochia. Panty liners or a sanitary napkin are needed when experiencing post-birth bleeding. This process will lessen over time, but can last for up to four weeks. If you have to change your pad frequently (every hour) or are passing large clots, contact your doctor.
    2. Perineum/perineal stitches. If you have stitches from a tear or an episiotomy, a surgical incision to enlarge the opening for the baby to pass through, they may take a few weeks to dissolve. Perineal cold packs can help with swelling, as well as topical pain relieving spray. Ask your OB/gyn or your nurse about these options while in the hospital.
    3. Cesarean incision. The incision will heal over a two-week period. Allow incision to dry completely before getting dressed, avoid baths (showers are okay) and keep incision clean and dry as possible. Talk with your doctor if you experience any signs of infection, like increased pain, redness or oozing from the incision.
    4. Post-birth contractions. Contractions will continue after you give birth to help the uterus return to its normal size. The pain may last for a few days and may increase while breastfeeding. Speak with your nurse or doctor about pain management techniques.
    5. Bladder and bowel function changes. Drink plenty of fluids after giving birth and empty your bladder frequently to avoid constipation or a urinary tract infection. If you experience pain or discomfort that is of concern to you, talk to your doctor.
    6. Swollen legs, feet and hands. Swelling occurs before and after pregnancy, but can be minimized by elevating your feet while sitting. However, avoid sitting for a long period of time – move and walk regularly after giving birth.
    1. Postpartum preeclampsia. This is a very serious condition. Contact your doctor immediately if you experience any of the following symptoms: headaches, stomach pain, nausea, visual changes, swelling hands and feet, sudden weight gain and high blood pressure. Postpartum preeclampsia occurs when a woman develops high blood pressure and other symptoms, usually within 48 hours. This can emerge up to six weeks post-delivery.
    2. Rest is so important. In the first two weeks following birth, limit your physical activity and sleep when your baby sleeps. Do not lift heavy objects

 

Article from Taylorville Memorial Hospital

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Caregiving For A Stroke Survivor

More than 50 million Americans serve as caregivers for a friend or family member who has a disability or illness. Whether you have cared for a stroke survivor for years or are new in your role, the experience can be overwhelming.

“Caregivers often have to balance a lot of responsibilities,” said Chris King, director, Memorial Home Health.  “They have to care for their families while also taking on the care and responsibilities of another person. Know that it’s okay to ask for help.”

Caregivers should feel comfortable taking time for self-care. Here are some tips to help you as you care for a stroke survivor:

  • Take time to learn. Rehabilitation providers can give you educational materials to help you navigate caring for a stroke survivor. Remember to make notes of questions you have and ask care providers those questions when the opportunity arises.
  • Review finances. Take time to understand the stroke survivor’s financial situation, including whether they can afford the copayment costs of skilled care or healthcare if they have private health insurance, or better understanding Medicare or Medicaid services. Depending on the health insurance provider, there may be limitations to what type of facility they can go to following a hospital stay.
  • Be a part of the care team. While your loved one is in rehabilitation, they will receive a care plan to help them to progress following the stroke. Take advantage of opportunities to participate in care plan meetings and support your loved one as they recover.
  • Get help at home. You don’t have to do all of the care on your own. Home health services, personal assistants and other friends and family members can help you provide personal care, coordinate appointments and manage the needs of the person you are caregiving for.
  • Practice self-care. Caregivers should make sure to take time to care for themselves. Respite care and adult day care services can help to give you some time for self-care. Self-care is beneficial for both the caregiver and stroke survivor.
  • Seek out support. Support groups can help you to cope and speak to others experiencing your same situation.

 

Article from Taylorville Memorial Hospital

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Does Eating Too Much Sugar Cause Diabetes?

Type 2 diabetes is a condition in which a person has a higher than normal blood sugar level. Separating fact from fiction will help you better understand diabetes, how to recognize its symptoms and even prevent it from occurring in some cases.

More than 30 million Americans have Type 2 diabetes and more than 84 million have prediabetes. It is one of the most common conditions in the United States.

“There are many common misperceptions about Type 2 diabetes, including the myth that eating too much sugar causes people to develop the condition,” said Erin Zepp, diabetes program coordinator for the Memorial Weight Loss & Wellness Center. “Although lifestyle choices do influence your risk of developing diabetes, it’s not directly caused by eating too much sugar.”

Type 2 diabetes is caused by a combination of genetics and lifestyle choices resulting in insulin resistance—meaning your body does not produce insulin as well as it should.

“Sugar is a high-calorie food, which contributes to weight gain and obesity,” Zepp said. “These are among the risk factors for developing diabetes. However, consuming sugar alone does not cause diabetes.”

What are some signs and symptoms of type II diabetes?

Symptoms of Type 2 diabetes include:

  • Thirst and frequent urination
  • Feeling hungry
  • Wounds that will not heal
  • Tiredness and fatigue
  • Blurred vision
  • Dark skin patches
  • Tingling or numbness in the hands and feet, known as neuropathy

Resources are available online to help you assess your risk. To learn more, visit Diabetes.org/Risk-Test.

Can I reduce my risk of diabetes?

If you have a family history of diabetes or have been diagnosed with prediabetes, you can make lifestyle changes to prevent diabetes.

“Maintaining a healthy weight and eating nutritious foods, as well as support from a medical professional, can help you to achieve this goal,” Zepp said.

Through diet, exercise and, in some cases, surgical intervention for weight loss, some people with diabetes can make lifestyle changes to reverse their condition. People who have previously been diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes have been able to successfully stop taking insulin and medication after making lifestyle changes.

Ready to make a change?

Memorial Weight Loss & Wellness Center offers a diabetes management program approved by the Centers for Disease Control to help individuals at risk for type II diabetes.

Article from Taylorville Memorial Hospital

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Wellness Path: Carlinville Area Hospital

The Carlinville Area Hospital Wellness Path: for your enjoyment and good health

Take in the beauty of nature, clear your mind, exercise, meet friends, take a break. Whatever the reason, the Wellness Path is a scenic, peaceful retreat on Carlinville Area Hospital’s main campus.

The half-mile recycled asphalt paved path is 6 ft wide and consists of a wildflower viewing area and native grasses. Planned future enhancements include picnic tables, lighting, benches and more.

The outdoor path starts at the southeast corner of the Medical Office Building parking lot and will be available during the spring/summer/fall months during daylight hours. As of now, the path is not fully lighted. The path is available for public use, offering the community an opportunity for physical activity and fresh air.

The paved path will provide easy access for wheelchairs and strollers; however, bikes, skateboards, rollerblades and scooters are prohibited. Tobacco use is also prohibited on the path.

“We hope the community comes out and uses it all the time,” said Ken Reid, CEO. “It’s here for everyone.”

The wellness path was funded by the Carlinville Area Hospital Auxiliary and will be open for use this fall.

Article: Carlinville Area Hospital

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Chiropractic & Natural Health Care – Posture

image of a bonsai tree. The ancient Japanese art form of growing Bonsai trees is fascinating. Bonsai trees are essentially normal shrubs that have been consistently stressed in a particular way for a long time to create a posture which would never be found in nature. Depending on how the tree is stressed while it grows, it may end up looking like a miniature version of a full-sized tree, or it may end up looking like a wild tangle of branches with twists and loops. To most people, “good posture” simply means sitting and standing up straight. Few of us realize the importance of posture to our health and performance.

The human body craves alignment. When we are properly aligned, our bones, not our muscles, support our weight, reducing effort and strain. The big payoff with proper posture is that we feel healthier, have more energy, and move gracefully. So while the word “posture” may conjure up images of book-balancing, charm-school girls, it is not just about standing up straight. It’s about being aware of and connected to every part of your self.

Posture ranks right up at the top of the list when you are talking about good health. It is as important as eating right, exercising, getting proper rest and avoiding potentially harmful substances like alcohol, drugs, and tobacco. Good posture is a way of doing things with more energy, less stress and fatigue. Without good posture, you cannot really be physically fit. Without good posture, you can actually damage your spine every time you exercise.

Ideally, our bones stack up one upon the other: the head rests directly on top of the spine, which sits directly over the pelvis, which sits directly over the knees and ankles. But if you spend hours every day sitting in a chair, if you hunch forward or balance your weight primarily on one leg, the muscles of your neck and back have to carry the weight of the body rather than it being supported by the spine. The resulting tension and joint pressure can affect you not only physically, but emotionally, too – from the predictable shoulder and back pain to headaches, short attention span, and depression.

Poor posture distorts the alignment of bones, chronically tenses muscles, and contributes to stressful conditions such as loss of vital lung capacity, increased fatigue, reduced blood and oxygen to the brain, limited range of motion, stiffness of joints, pain syndromes, reduced mental alertness, and decreased productivity at work. According to the Nobel Laureate Dr. Roger Sperry, “the more mechanically distorted a person is, the less energy is available for thinking, metabolism, and healing.”

The most immediate problem with poor posture is that it creates a lot of chronic muscle tension as the weight of the head and upper body must be supported by the muscles instead of the bones. This effect becomes more pronounced the further your posture deviates from your body’s center of balance.

To illustrate this idea further, think about carrying a briefcase. If you had to carry a briefcase with your arms outstretched in front of you, it would not take long before the muscles of your shoulders would be completely exhausted. This is because carrying the briefcase far away from your center of balance places undue stress on your shoulder muscles. If you held the same briefcase down at your side, your muscles would not fatigue as quickly, because the briefcase is closer to your center of balance and therefore the weight is supported by the bones of the skeleton, rather than the muscles.

In some parts of the world, women can carry big pots full of water from distant water sources back to their homes. They are able to carry these heavy pots a long distance without significant effort because they balance them on the top of their heads, thereby carrying them at their center of balance and allowing the strength of their skeleton to bear the weight, rather than their muscles.

Correcting bad posture and the physical problems that result can be accomplished in two ways. The first is by eliminating as much “bad” stress from your body as possible. Bad stress includes all the factors, habits, or stressors that cause your body to deviate from your structural center. Bad stress can result from a poorly adjusted workstation at work, from not having your seat adjusted correctly in your car, or even from carrying too much weight around in a heavy purse or backpack.

The second is by applying “good” stress on the body in an effort to move your posture back toward your center of balance. This is accomplished through a series of exercises, stretches, adjustments, and changes to your physical environment, all designed to help correct your posture. Getting your body back to its center of balance by improving your posture is critically important to improving how you feel.

Article: “Back To Health” Chiropractic & Natural Health Care

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